Racing:Mick Channon is praying for better fortune with Music Show in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday where Lillie Langtry leads Aidan O'Brien's five-strong assault but has something to prove as she makes her seasonal debut.
Music Show had previously finished sixth in the Newmarket 1,000 Guineas after being drawn on what turned out to be the wrong side of the course.
The filly, owned by Jaber Abdullah, had run out a convincing winner of the Nell Gwyn Stakes in April.
“She seems to have done well since the Guineas, as I think all horses will,” said the West Ilsley trainer. “We’ve got a nice bit of weather now. The three-year-olds are improving now, that’s for sure.
“I couldn’t be happier with her and she’s taken her races well. The Guineas winner is sometimes finished by Royal Ascot. I’d like to think this filly could go through the season.
“She’s taken her racing great and I’m very pleased with her. She won the Nell Gwyn and it looks the best fillies’ form in this country, and possibly in Europe.
“Her form was good last year. She was a Group Two winner, but she’s got to do it and turn up and win now.
“Everything went against her at Newmarket, but we don’t want to harp on about that. That’s the way it goes sometimes. You have good luck and bad luck with the draw.”
Lillie Langtry landed the valuable Tattersalls Timeform Fillies’ 800 at Newmarket on her penultimate start, and then went over to America for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf where she finished unplaced but was afterwards found to have been injured.
“She had an injury at the end of last year, but she’s been back in work a couple of months and had a canter away at the Curragh,” said O’Brien.
“She’s in good form and she’s just ready to start. Obviously she is a filly and doesn’t carry as much condition as the colts.
“Hopefully she might be a little bit more forward (than the colts) but she’s just ready to start.”
O’Brien’s Remember When has been the subject of recent support for the Investec Oaks after a pleasing reappearance behind Chinese White on only her second start.
“She’s had a run this season and ran nicely at Gowran and finished third to two older fillies,” said O’Brien.
“She’s in good form, the plan is to run and see how much she has come on and then take the next step when we see how she runs.
“It’s hard to say at this time of year whether it is a strong Classic or a weak Classic because a lot of the good horses aren’t ready to run until the Classics.
“Before the race they might look weak but then a superstar might arrive, you’re never sure.
“The fillies are well and we’d be delighted if they run well.”
O’Brien’s other runners are Famous, Full Of Hope and Queen Of Troy as the Ballydoyle trainer goes for a fifth win in the Classic.
Termagant goes into the race undefeated after winning both of her races as a two-year-old, including the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes.
“She’s working very well, she never really shows an awful lot at home but we’re very happy with her,” said trainer Kevin Prendergast.
“She won on fast ground at Leopardstown last year. Ground preference for her is not a deal.
“I think she will get a mile and a half later on. She’s got a good, relaxed way of racing. She’s by Powerscourt and out of a mare by Selkirk.”
Prendergast also put a good word in for his other runner, Crystal Gal.
“She will run a good race, but the ground might be getting a bit dry for her,” he remarked. “On all know form, Termagant is rated 110 and Crystal Gal is rated 7lb or 8lb inferior to her.”